Fastest
Helicopter to AfrikaBurn
Bell 407 turbine helicopter, Cape Town Private Terminal to a private helipad minutes from the AfrikaBurn arrival gate. ~1 hour total. A SkyBurn vehicle is waiting on landing to take you to your camp.
Helicopter and aircraft transfers from Cape Town's private terminal direct to the AfrikaBurn airstrip — under an hour vs five-to-seven hours of gravel.
Why charter?
Flagship live product. Drives the brand even after we expand.Suggested origins
FACT
The Route
Cape Town Tankwa
Departure
Private Terminal, Cape Town Int Airport
All aircraft depart from Private Terminal at Cape Town International Airport. Private aviation terminal with easy access and parking. Check in, grab a coffee, and board your flight.
Multiple daily departures
Arrival
Two Arrival Points
The Bell 407 helicopter lands at a private helipad a few minutes from the AfrikaBurn arrival gate; a SkyBurn vehicle takes you straight to your camp. The PC-12 lands at Tankwa Airstrip with a 35-minute shuttle included in the fare.
Heli: ~1hr to camp
Planes: ~1hr total
The Definitive Guide
How to fly to AfrikaBurn from Cape Town
The fastest, most comfortable way to get to Africa Burn 2026 is by air. SkyBurn runs scheduled helicopter and aircraft transfers between Cape Town International Airport and the Tankwa Karoo event site — door-to-door in as little as one hour. No 7-hour gravel road, no broken windscreens, no exhausted arrival.
Ways to get to AfrikaBurn
Most comfortable
Pilatus PC-12 flight to Tankwa
8-seat pressurised turboprop with leather seats and air conditioning. Lands at Tankwa Airstrip with a 35-minute shuttle to the event included in the fare. ~1 hour total.
Traditional
Driving to AfrikaBurn
Roughly 5–7 hours from Cape Town including the brutal R355 gravel road. Punctures, cracked windscreens and dust-soaked arrivals are routine. Skip it.
The fastest way to get to AfrikaBurn
The fastest way to get from Cape Town to Africa Burn is the SkyBurn Bell 407 helicopter transfer. Roughly one hour from check-in at the Cape Town Private Terminal to your camp at AfrikaBurn — flight, landing and the SkyBurn vehicle from the helipad to your camp combined. That is more than 6 hours faster than driving the R355 gravel road, with zero risk of vehicle damage or being stranded in the Karoo at sunset.
For groups who want comfort over raw speed, the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop covers the same route in about 1 hour total — pressurised cabin, climate control, leather seats, and a shuttle waiting on the runway at Tankwa Airstrip.
Flights to AfrikaBurn 2026
SkyBurn operates daily scheduled flights to Africa Burn for the full 2026 event window — 27 April to 3 May 2026 — in both directions. Bell 407 helicopters depart every 3 hours; the Pilatus PC-12 runs twice daily. You can book a single seat, a round trip, or charter the entire aircraft for your group.
See all AfrikaBurn flightsCape Town to AfrikaBurn — compared
| Option | Door-to-door time | Comfort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopter (Bell 407) | ~1 hour | Premium | Fastest arrival, helipad minutes from the gate |
| Aircraft (Pilatus PC-12) | ~1 hour | Luxury | Groups, max comfort, climate control |
| Drive (R355 gravel) | 5–7 hours | Punishing | Carrying camp gear yourself |
| Shared shuttle bus | 8+ hours | Basic | Tight budget, flexible schedule |
Common questions about flying to Africa Burn
How long does it take to fly from Cape Town to AfrikaBurn?
The Bell 407 helicopter is about 1 hour total from Cape Town International Airport to your camp — roughly 45 minutes of flight plus the short SkyBurn vehicle ride from the helipad to the AfrikaBurn arrival gate and into camp. The Pilatus PC-12 flies in around 25 minutes plus a 35-minute shuttle from Tankwa Airstrip to the gate — about 1 hour total.
Where do flights to Africa Burn depart from?
All SkyBurn flights depart from the Private Terminal at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) — the dedicated private aviation terminal with easy parking and quick check-in.
Where exactly does the helicopter land?
Helicopters cannot land inside the AfrikaBurn site. The Bell 407 touches down at a private helipad a few minutes’ drive outside the AfrikaBurn arrival gate. A SkyBurn vehicle meets every flight and takes you straight to your camp — no shuttle bus, no queues, no walking through dust. Ground transport is included in the fare.
Can I charter a private aircraft for my AfrikaBurn group?
Yes. You can book the full Bell 407 (5 seats) or the full Pilatus PC-12 (8 seats) for your group — confirmed instantly without waiting for other passengers. Larger groups can request additional aircraft via our charter desk.
Got Questions?